Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Oral 'Nick' Hillary; New York; Bulletin: On-going trial; Prosecution rests, defense moves for dismissal... "Rensselaer county medical examiner Michael Sikirica was asked to examine photos of Hillary’s ankle taken two days after the murder. Sikirica said the wound appeared “fresh,” that there was “no evidence of healing” and that it appeared one to two days old. Hillary has said he injured his ankle a week before Garrett’s death moving furniture in his apartment. Sikirica was the coroner who did the autopsy on Garrett’s body. While the court was shown graphic police photos of the victim, Sikirica described scratches and scrapes on Garrett’s face and neck, as if someone “grabbed Garrett Phillips over the mouth.” He said the injuries were consistent with, but not necessarily caused by, fingernails. Defense attorney Earl Ward reminded Sikirica of earlier grand jury testimony when he said there was “no patterning consistent with gloves.” Nick Hillary’s fingerprints have not been found at the crime scene despite an exhaustive search by state police forensics experts. But prosecutor Fitzpatrick countered by asking if the injuries could be made with “surgical or thin gloves,” Sikirica answered yes."" NCPR.



COUNTDOWN: 16 days to Wrongful Conviction Day: (Thursday October 6, 2016);

"Prosecutors rested their case this afternoon in the murder trial of Oral "Nick" Hillary. Hillary is charged with the 2011 death of 12 year-old Garrett Phillips in Potsdam. The defense team then requested a dismissal for lack of evidence, calling the peoples' case “far from legally sufficient.” Judge Felix Catena reserved judgement and the trial proceeded, with witnesses for the defense. A reminder that Catena is judge and jury in this, after Hillary waived his right to trial by jury.........The prosecution also raised questions about Hillary’s ankle injury. Rensselaer county medical examiner Michael Sikirica was asked to examine photos of Hillary’s ankle taken two days after the murder. Sikirica said the wound appeared “fresh,” that there was “no evidence of healing” and that it appeared one to two days old. Hillary has said he injured his ankle a week before Garrett’s death moving furniture in his apartment. Sikirica was the coroner who did the autopsy on Garrett’s body. While the court was shown graphic police photos of the victim, Sikirica described scratches and scrapes on Garrett’s face and neck, as if someone “grabbed Garrett Phillips over the mouth.” He said the injuries were consistent with, but not necessarily caused by, fingernails. Defense attorney Earl Ward reminded Sikirica of earlier grand jury testimony when he said there was “no patterning consistent with gloves.” Nick Hillary’s fingerprints have not been found at the crime scene despite an exhaustive search by state police forensics experts. But prosecutor Fitzpatrick countered by asking if the injuries could be made with “surgical or thin gloves,” Sikirica answered yes."

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/32607/20160920/prosecution-rests-in-the-nick-hillary-trial-defense-moves-for-dismissal